Pitt drops second in a row with 24-19 loss to Virginia

Pitt won the coin toss and took the ball to open the game, but the Panthers didn’t seem to be ready to play, as the offense was called for two penalties - a false start and a hold - and lost seven net yards before Pitt’s punting unit took another false start for a net gain of -12 yards on the possession.

The Panthers’ defense came up with a big play, though. After Virginia gained a first down, Tamon Lynum dislodged a pass and recorded his first career interception to give the offense the ball back.

Initially, it looked like the Panthers’ second drive was finding success, as Eli Holstein completed a pair of passes to Kenny Johnson for 23 yards. But another false start killed the rhythm, and Pitt ended up punting again on fourth down from the 30.

Pitt’s defense forced another stop on the next drive after the Cavaliers got across the 50, but the Panthers’ offense responded with yet another punt - this time after a three-and-out that featured another procedure penalty.

This time, Virginia capitalized on Pitt’s offensive ineptitude. The Cavaliers busted a big play with a 28-yard run by Xavier Brown and then got near the red zone with a 24-yard pass from Anthony Colandrea to Andre Greene to end the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

On the first play of the second quarter, Virginia got crafty, running a trick play that saw receiver Suderian Harrison throw a pass to Colandrea. The Cavaliers quarterback caught the ball at the Pitt 1, and on the next snap, Brown ran into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.

VIRGINIA 7, PITT 0 - 14:17, 2nd quarter

Pitt needed an answer on its next possession, but the Panthers didn’t get it, as a five-yard pass to Gavin Bartholomew was followed by a two-yard loss from Daniel Carter and an incomplete pass on third down.

After Caleb Junko’s fourth punt of the game, Virginia marched into Pitt territory, but the Panthers’ defense came up with two sacks - one on second down and one on third - to force the Cavaliers to punt.

The Panthers took over at their own 20 from the punt, and that turned into the 14 after Holstein was sacked for a six-yard loss. But on second-and-16 he connected with Johnson for 10 yards and then scrambled for eight yards on third down.

Soon enough, Pitt found itself in another third down; this time on third-and-10, Holstein let loose with what was essentially an arm punt. The pass fell incomplete, but Virginia committed pass interference, and the Panthers got 15 yards from it.

A 12-yard pass to Konata Mumpfield picked up another first down, but a holding penalty two plays later put Pitt in second-and-17. On that snap, Holstein threw a check-down to Desmond Reid, who somehow kept his balance and ran 32 yards inside the Virginia 10.

Three plays later, Daniel Carter took a handoff and ran one yard for Pitt’s first touchdown.

PITT 7, VIRGINIA 7 - 4:48, 2nd quarter

The Panthers’ defense came up with another big play after the touchdown when, on third-and-6 from the 29, Kyle Louis got in front of a Colandrea pass for the second interception of the game. Pitt’s offense went three-and-out after the turnover, but Ben Sauls converted a 44-yard field goal to give the Panthers a lead.

PITT 10, VIRGINIA 7 - 1:59, 2nd quarter

Pitt’s defense produced another three-and-out after the field goal and Reid had a nice punt return to get the ball close to midfield with 79 seconds left in the half. A great diving catch by Raphael Williams picked up 23 yards on first-and-20 - caused by another holding penalty - but Holstein threw incomplete on three consecutive passes. Sauls finished the drive, though, with a 48-yard field goal to extend the lead.

PITT 13, VIRGINIA 7 - 0:08, 2nd quarter

THIRD QUARTER

Pitt kicked to open the second half, but Virginia’ possession didn’t last long, as the Panthers forced the Cavaliers into a three-and-out. Pitt’s first drive didn’t go any better, though; Holstein missed Mumpfield for open passes on second and third downs, with the latter resulting in Mumpfield leaving the game after hitting his head on the ground while diving.

Pitt’s defense produced another three-and-out, and when the offense took over at the 30, the plan was to get the ball to Reid. The plan worked, too, as Reid rattled of runs of three, eight and six yards before Holstein ran for five yards himself. But Holstein took a shot at the end of his run and had to leave the game, bringing Nate Yarnell in for the first time.

A four-yard run by Reid and a four-yard scramble by Yarnell set up third-and-2, but Reid lost two yards on that play and Sauls’ 45-yard field goal was blocked, leaving Pitt without points from the drive.

Virginia found offensive success on the next possession. A 10-yard pass from Colandrea to tight end Tyler Neville picked up a first down and then Colandrea ran for 27 yards into Pitt territory. On the next play, Colandrea hit Brown up the seam for a 24-yard touchdown pass.

VIRGINIA 14, PITT 13 - 5:39, 3rd quarter

Pitt’s next possession got off to an auspicious start when the Panthers took a delay of game on the first play. But auspicious turned to bad on the first actual snap, as Yarnell’s deep throw to Williams was intercepted and returned to the Pitt 20.

Four plays later, running back Kobe Pace ran into the end zone from five yards out for a touchdown to extend the Cavaliers’ lead.

VIRGINIA 21, PITT 13 - 3:34, 3rd quarter

With Yarnell at the reins, Pitt took the field for its next possession at the 15 and only gained a net total of nine yards before punting. As the fourth quarter ended, the Cavaliers were lining up for another punt of their own.

FOURTH QUARTER

Virginia’s punt to start the fourth quarter was taken by Reid as a fair catch at the Pitt 14, but on the second play of the drive, Reid got the ball again and took off outside right tackle for a 34-yard gain to get close to midfield.

Another Reid run picked up a first down, and then Yarnell converted a third down with an 11-yard scramble before hitting Bartholomew for a 20-yard pass that moved the ball inside the 10.

Three plays later, Yarnell and Bartholomew connected again for the senior tight end’s first touchdown of the season, and while the two-point conversion failed, Pitt finished the possession down two.

VIRGINIA 21, PITT 19 - 10:32, 4th quarter

Pitt’s defense took the field needing a stop and immediately got Virginia into third-and-15, but despite pressure on Colandrea, the Cavaliers’ quarterback connected with receiver Chris Tyree on a 25-yard pass to convert. On the next play, Colandrea scrambled for a 10-yard gain, and then he hit Pace for a 12-yard gain to get inside the Pitt 35.

After a pair of runs, Virginia was facing fourth-and-1 from the Pitt 24. Both teams brought in heavy personnel, including reserve quarterback Grady Brosterhous. The ball was snapped and the Cavaliers started pushing, but Pitt pushed back and stopped Brosterhous from getting the first down.

Instead of the Panthers getting the ball back, though, the officials announced that they were not set when the play was run, giving Virginia another shot at fourth down.

This time, the Cavaliers converted with a run by Pace, and while the drive was stopped and Virginia had to kick a field goal, the damage was done.

VIRGINIA 24, PITT 19 - 2:04, 4th quarter

Pitt got the ball back at its own 25 with 2:04 on the clock and got a big boost when Yarnell threw to Reid for an 11-yard gain plus 15 more for a roughing the passer penalty that moved the ball into Virginia territory. But after throwing incomplete on first down, Yarnell took a shot for Williams on second down; the pass was overthrown and intercepted by Virginia safety and Penn Hills native Corey Thomas.

Virginia’s offense took the ball back and gained one first down to seal the game and hand Pitt its second loss of the season.

VIRGINIA 24, PITT 19 - Final